Exaltation (Insight #11)(33)
Right then a tepid wind picked up. River glanced down to Raven and tried to hide a smile. “I didn’t do that,” she mouthed.
Raven grinned.
River’s attention was back on the firebird. “The race is about to start. As soon as it’s over we’re out. If I were you I would do it right when the cars peel out. Make it short and sweet, and if you can, think of a snide remark to add before you skate away. That’ll work.”
“You’re crazy.”
“And you’re a chicken.”
“You guys have me pumped up now—want me to do it and say Raven says hi?” Kimberly asked.
“I got this,” Raven said, knowing that Kimberly would completely humiliate her if she tried it.
The announcer started to talk, saying the race would start in a few seconds. Raven skated toward the guy before she lost her nerve.
She figured everyone else would be staring at the field, including River, so if she messed this up the only one she had to deal with was the boy. Hopefully, River was right and she wouldn’t see him when she followed her regular schedule.
Raven kept telling herself to just pretend it was Soren—all for show.
Right as she heard the engines rev up and the horn blow Raven circled the corner. One quick glance confirmed it was her mystery boy.
The sight of him would make any girl blush. He wasn’t just hot—he was magnificent. His eyes were almost clear, otherworldly clear, thick lashes made them even more mysterious. A dusky stubble outlined his strong profile, lush lips. Raven’s gaze rushed over his broad shoulders, chest, down to his lean waist. So strong.
When she met his gaze once more she found them glinted in recognition.
Raven was struggling with the oddest sensation, it was like a magnet—pulling her to him but as she edged closer it rebelled. The air around him was electric, sparking with Raven’s drug of choice, bliss—fun—excitement, and outright joy.
Her gaze dipped to his lips, then, like a viper, she reached up and laced her fingers through his dark locks and pulled him to her lips. Fighting the repelling sensation, and the moment she passed it, a locked sensation came to life, raw, primitive, and an all-engrossing awareness.
River was right—the boy was so stunned his entire body went tense. Raven pushed his lips apart and dared to sink her tongue into his mouth.
At first, Rydell was not thrilled to come face to face with this distraction—he was on the hunt for his prey. But then she smiled at him and he felt a surge of exaltation rushing from her...his drug, his intoxication.
The emotion was pure, unprovoked, felt only for joy.
Before he could question why her lips were on his, which only made him draw a deeper breath, feel the high all the more, he felt the rush instantly—pure bliss.
Vim, energy, Rydell was very aware of it at all times. He felt hers vim pulling from him, yet it wasn’t. It was as if there was this unseen silk barrier between them—a division he wanted beyond.
One hand reached for her waist, the other to cradle her face, when he felt her vim easing her back, he turned her against the wall. Nothing short of an atomic bomb would be strong enough to force them apart.
His lips feasted on hers, his tongue intertwining, drawing in subtle breaths each time he could. His fingertips filtered through the long locks of her hair…again it felt like silk, as if there was some barrier between them. He could feel her, but not really...pressed against ecstasy but couldn’t reach it.
His hand slowly fell, gliding past her shoulder, carefully down the side of her chest. So responsive. Finally reaching her hips he pulled her closer to him, forgetting where he was, what he was doing.
Right now all he cared to know was why this felt majestic…forbidden.
She raised up, deepened the kiss even further, nearly robbing his breath, then pulled away.
Her eyes flicked over him. He tasted like sin, pure sin. Every warning bell in Raven’s soul was going off.
REGRETTABLE.
“Next time ask me before you smell my hair.”
And with that Raven skated away feeling like a fool for listening to River…she feared she’d just woken a sleeping lion. Not just a kiss.
Chapter Ten
Jamison’s life was in effect sectioned off. He had his mortal side, the one that managed all of the businesses he owned in the city, more so in the Quarter itself. He had his coven, which was a mix of those who were all in, immortals who were downright fierce when crossed, and he had those who kept the peace and practiced the simplest of magic, and only did so to protect their home. Then he had his family, which was intricate to say the least.
After he dropped Raven off that afternoon, he’d gone back to the school, manifested into the records department, and confirmed his fears: two boys were also new that year, in Duncan’s class. One was Rydell King, known as King to his people.
Out of curiosity, Jamison made his way to the Beauregard Boneyard. It was a Boneyard for old motorcycles. There was also a garage that repaired and made bikes. Mostly it was a Club, one where the Pentacle Sons, a paranormal biker gang lurked.
They were not paranormal because they were witches, but more so a mix of all mythical creatures man has feared over time. Each were created by Reveca.
Reveca was a stubborn, fierce woman Jamison had always adored. She was an original; she was gifted and powerful, and needed by countless souls.
Jamison blamed himself for the way she was today. He always thought he could have done something to stop Revelin from taking her lover so long ago. Even though Saige and others had told him he couldn’t have, that fate had its say.